Have you ever wondered about the stories hidden in Victorian last names?
These classic surnames from the 1800s offer interesting glimpses into a bygone era of strict social codes, industrial revolution, and empire building.
Victorian last names often revealed a person’s occupation, hometown, or family connections, making them like tiny time capsules of history!
If your ancestors were humble blacksmiths or wealthy merchants, their Victorian last names carried meaning that has traveled through generations to reach us today.
Uncover the history of these old family names that continue to be used in our communities.
Most Common Victorian Last Names
1. Smith
Meaning: Occupational surname for a metalworker or blacksmith.
Origin: Old English
2. Johnson
Meaning: Son of John, a common first name.
Origin: English, Scottish
3. Williams
Meaning: Son of William, derived from the Germanic name Wilhelm (meaning “resolute protector”).
Origin: English, Welsh
4. Brown
Meaning: Likely referring to someone with brown hair, complexion, or clothing.
Origin: Old English
5. Jones
Meaning: Son of John, which means “God is gracious.”
Origin: Welsh
6. Taylor
Meaning: Occupational surname for a tailor, someone who made or repaired clothing.
Origin: Old French, English
7. Davies
Meaning: Son of David, meaning “beloved.”
Origin: Welsh
8. Evans
Meaning: Son of Evan, meaning “young warrior” or “well born.”
Origin: Welsh
9. Thomas
Meaning: Derived from the Aramaic name meaning “twin.”
Origin: Greek, Aramaic
10. White
Meaning: Likely referring to someone with fair skin or hair.
Origin: Old English
11. Harris
Meaning: Son of Harry, a diminutive of Henry, meaning “ruler of the household.”
Origin: English
12. Clark
Meaning: Occupational surname for a clerk, someone who worked with records or documents.
Origin: Old French, English
13. Lewis
Meaning: Derived from the Old German name “Ludwig,” meaning “famous warrior.”
Origin: English, Welsh
14. Walker
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who walked wool to soften it.
Origin: Old English
15. Hall
Meaning: Likely referring to someone who lived in or worked in a hall or manor house.
Origin: Old English
16. Young
Meaning: Likely referring to a younger person or the son of an older person with the same name.
Origin: Old English
17. King
Meaning: Occupational surname for a ruler or someone who served the king.
Origin: Old English
18. Wright
Meaning: Occupational surname for a craftsman or worker.
Origin: Old English
19. Scott
Meaning: Likely referring to someone from Scotland or of Scottish origin.
Origin: Old French, Scottish
20. Green
Meaning: Likely referring to someone who lived near a village green or had a green-colored feature.
Origin: Old English
21. Adams
Meaning: Derived from the given name Adam, meaning “man” or “earth.”
Origin: Hebrew, English
22. Baker
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who baked bread.
Origin: Old English
23. Mitchell
Meaning: Derived from the given name Michael, meaning “who is like God.”
Origin: Hebrew, English
24. Campbell
Meaning: Derived from the Gaelic name “Caimbeul,” meaning “crooked mouth.”
Origin: Scottish
25. Carter
Meaning: Occupational surname for a transporter of goods by cart.
Origin: Old French, English
26. Phillips
Meaning: Son of Philip, meaning “lover of horses.”
Origin: Greek, English
27. Parker
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who worked in a park or hunting ground.
Origin: Old French, English
28. Morris
Meaning: Derived from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moorish.”
Origin: Latin, English
29. Morgan
Meaning: Derived from the Welsh name Morcant, meaning “sea chief.”
Origin: Welsh
30. Roberts
Meaning: Son of Robert, meaning “bright fame.”
Origin: Old German, English
31. Lee
Meaning: Referring to a meadow or clearing.
Origin: Old English
32. Wood
Meaning: Likely referring to someone who lived near a wood or forest.
Origin: Old English
33. Allen
Meaning: Possibly derived from the Celtic name “Alun,” meaning “fair” or “handsome.”
Origin: Celtic, English
34. Hill
Meaning: Likely referring to someone who lived on a hill or elevated ground.
Origin: Old English
35. Edwards
Meaning: Son of Edward, meaning “wealthy guard.”
Origin: Old English
36. Jackson
Meaning: Son of Jack, a diminutive of John, meaning “God is gracious.”
Origin: English
37. Robinson
Meaning: Son of Robin, a diminutive of Robert, meaning “bright fame.”
Origin: Old French, English
38. Cooper
Meaning: Occupational surname for a barrel maker.
Origin: Old French, English
39. Turner
Meaning: Occupational surname for a lathe worker or wood-turner.
Origin: Old French, English
40. Foster
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who took care of children or animals.
Origin: Old French, English
41. Watson
Meaning: Son of Walter, meaning “ruler of the army.”
Origin: Old English
42. Gray
Meaning: Likely referring to someone with gray hair or a grayish complexion.
Origin: Old English
43. Sanders
Meaning: Son of Alexander, meaning “defender of the people.”
Origin: Greek, English
44. Bennett
Meaning: Derived from the Latin name Benedict, meaning “blessed.”
Origin: Latin, English
45. Cook
Meaning: Occupational surname for a cook or someone who prepared food.
Origin: Old English
46. Lawrence
Meaning: Derived from the Latin name Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum” (a place name).
Origin: Latin
47. Hughes
Meaning: Derived from the Germanic name Hugo, meaning “mind” or “intellect.”
Origin: Old French, English
48. Fisher
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who fished or worked with fish.
Origin: Old English
49. Bailey
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who worked as a bailiff or steward.
Origin: Old French, English
50. Graham
Meaning: Derived from the place name “Grantham,” meaning “gravelly homestead.”
Origin: Old English
51. Rogers
Meaning: Son of Roger, meaning “famous spear.”
Origin: Old French, English
52. Price
Meaning: Derived from the Welsh “ap Rhys,” meaning “son of Rhys.”
Origin: Welsh
53. Powell
Meaning: Derived from the Welsh “ap Hywel,” meaning “son of Hywel.”
Origin: Welsh
54. Jenkins
Meaning: Son of Jenkin, a diminutive of John, meaning “God is gracious.”
Origin: Welsh, English
55. Collins
Meaning: Son of Collin, a diminutive of Nicholas, meaning “victory of the people.”
Origin: Greek, English
56. Ward
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who guarded or watched over a place.
Origin: Old English
57. Russell
Meaning: Derived from the Old French word “rous,” meaning “red,” likely referring to a person with red hair.
Origin: Old French, English
58. Palmer
Meaning: Occupational surname for someone who carried a palm branch as a symbol of pilgrimage.
Origin: Old French, English
59. Riley
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “ryge,” meaning “rye” (a type of grain).
Origin: Old English
60. Simpson
Meaning: Son of Sim, a diminutive of Simon, meaning “one who hears.”
Origin: Hebrew, English
61. Grant
Meaning: Derived from the Old French word “grant,” meaning “great” or “large.”
Origin: Old French, English
62. Clarke
Meaning: Occupational surname for a cleric or scribe.
Origin: Old French, English
63. Rose
Meaning: Referring to the flower, often used as a symbol of beauty.
Origin: Old French, Latin
64. Harper
Meaning: Occupational surname for a player of the harp.
Origin: Old English
65. Burns
Meaning: Likely referring to someone who lived near a stream or river.
Origin: Old English
66. Morrison
Meaning: Son of Morris, meaning “dark-skinned” or “Moorish.”
Origin: Old French, English
67. Bell
Meaning: Occupational surname for a bellmaker or bell ringer.
Origin: Old French, English
68. Hunter
Meaning: Occupational surname for a person who hunted animals.
Origin: Old English, Old French
69. Stevens
Meaning: Son of Steven, meaning “crown” or “garland.”
Origin: Greek, English
70. Shaw
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived near a small woodland or thicket.
Origin: Old English
71. Long
Meaning: Likely referring to someone tall or long-limbed.
Origin: Old English
72. Watts
Meaning: Son of Walter, meaning “ruler of the army.”
Origin: Old English
73. Mason
Meaning: Occupational surname for a stone mason.
Origin: Old French, English
74. Curtis
Meaning: Derived from the Old French word “curteis,” meaning “courteous” or “polite.”
Origin: Old French, English
75. Arnold
Meaning: Derived from the Old Germanic name “Arnwald,” meaning “eagle ruler.”
Origin: Germanic, English
76. Martin
Meaning: Derived from the Latin name Martinus, meaning “of Mars” (the Roman god of war).
Origin: Latin
77. Nolan
Meaning: Derived from the Gaelic “Ó Nualláin,” meaning “descendant of Nuallán” (a personal name meaning “famous.”
Origin: Irish
78. Wheeler
Meaning: Occupational surname for a maker of wheels.
Origin: Old English
79. West
Meaning: Referring to someone from the west or who lived to the west.
Origin: Old English
80. Sutton
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “sūtan,” meaning “south town.”
Origin: Old English
81. Butler
Meaning: Occupational surname for a butler, a servant in charge of household provisions.
Origin: Old French, English
82. Simmons
Meaning: Son of Simon, meaning “one who hears.”
Origin: Hebrew, English
83. Stewart
Meaning: Occupational surname for a steward, someone who managed the household or estate.
Origin: Old French, Scottish
84. Marshall
Meaning: Occupational surname for a horse servant or caretaker.
Origin: Old French, English
85. Harrison
Meaning: Son of Harry or Henry, meaning “ruler of the household.”
Origin: Old English
86. Payne
Meaning: Derived from the Old French “Pagan,” meaning “pagan” or “heathen.”
Origin: Old French
87. Webb
Meaning: Occupational surname for a weaver.
Origin: Old English
88. Lynch
Meaning: Likely referring to someone from the town of Lynch in Ireland or a person involved in a lynching (a form of extrajudicial punishment).
Origin: Irish, English
89. Doyle
Meaning: Derived from the Gaelic “Ó Dobhail,” meaning “descendant of Dobhail.”
Origin: Irish
90. Cameron
Meaning: Derived from the Gaelic word “cam” meaning “crooked” and “surn” meaning “nose.”
Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
91. Hunt
Meaning: Occupational surname for a hunter or one who pursued game.
Origin: Old English
92. Westwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived in or near a forest in the west.
Origin: Old English
Rare and Unique Victorian Last Names
93. Ashford
Meaning: Derived from the Old English word “æsc” meaning “ash tree” and “ford” meaning “ford” or “river crossing.”
Origin: Old English
94. Blackwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived near a dark or dense wood.
Origin: Old English
95. Channing
Meaning: Derived from the Old French “chanoine,” meaning “a canon” (a member of the clergy).
Origin: French, English
96. Drummond
Meaning: Derived from a Scottish place name meaning “ridge” or “hill.”
Origin: Scottish
97. Everly
Meaning: Derived from an Old English place name, meaning “boar meadow” or “wild boar clearing.”
Origin: Old English
98. Farrow
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “faran,” meaning “to travel,” or a variant of the surname “Ferris,” meaning “son of the ironworker.”
Origin: Old English
99. Greystone
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived near a gray stone or rocky area.
Origin: Old English
100. Hatherleigh
Meaning: Derived from “heather field” or “clearing of heather.”
Origin: Old English
101. Iverson
Meaning: Derived from the Scandinavian personal name “Ivor,” meaning “archer” or “warrior.”
Origin: Scandinavian, Old Norse
102. Jaffrey
Meaning: Variant of the name Jeffrey, meaning “God’s peace” or “peaceful.”
Origin: Old French, Old Germanic
103. Kettering
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “the people of Ketter” or “Ketter’s people.”
Origin: Old English
104. Lockwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived near a locked or enclosed wood.
Origin: Old English
105. Melrose
Meaning: Derived from a place name in Scotland, meaning “mere forest” or “mill stream.”
Origin: Old English, Scottish
106. Netherwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived near a wood or forest on the lower or “nether” side.
Origin: Old English
107. Pendleton
Meaning: Derived from “hill with a hollow” or “hill with a valley.”
Origin: Old English
108. Quinton
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “cwen,” meaning “queen,” and “tun,” meaning “town” or “settlement.”
Origin: Old English
109. Ravenswood
Meaning: Referring to a dark or ominous wood where ravens are found.
Origin: Old English
110. Selby
Meaning: Derived from an Old Norse personal name and place name, meaning “willow farm.”
Origin: Old Norse, Old English
111. Thorne
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “thorn,” referring to a thorn bush or thicket.
Origin: Old English
112. Underwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived near a forest or wooded area.
Origin: Old English
113. Vauxhall
Meaning: Derived from the Old French “Vaux” and “hall,” meaning “valley hall” or “house in the valley.”
Origin: Old French
114. Walsingham
Meaning: Derived from a place name in England, meaning “the home of Wulfsige.”
Origin: Old English
115. Yorke
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “Eorcen,” meaning “york” or “city of the north.”
Origin: Old English
116. Aldridge
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “ald,” meaning “old,” and “ric,” meaning “rich” or “powerful.”
Origin: Old English
117. Baskerville
Meaning: Derived from a place name in Normandy, France, meaning “a wood or grove of the deer.”
Origin: Old French, Norman
118. Bracknell
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “bracken hill” or “hill of ferns.”
Origin: Old English
119. Calthorpe
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “cattle village” or “village of the cattle herds.”
Origin: Old English
120. Dunsmore
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “hill of the fort.”
Origin: Old English
121. Edgerton
Meaning: Derived from the Old English “ecg,” meaning “edge,” and “tun,” meaning “town” or “settlement.”
Origin: Old English
122. Fairleigh
Meaning: Derived from “fair meadow” or “meadow of beauty.”
Origin: Old English
123. Glenmore
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “large valley” or “big glen.”
Origin: Old Scottish
124. Hawkesworth
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “hawk’s settlement.”
Origin: Old English
125. Islington
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “the town or village of Islæ.”
Origin: Old English
126. Kingswell
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “king’s well” or “spring.”
Origin: Old English
127. Loxley
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “a meadow of the swan.”
Origin: Old English
128. Moncrieff
Meaning: Derived from a Scottish surname meaning “from the craggy hill” or “from the rocky hill.”
Origin: Scottish
129. Norwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived in or near a northern wood.
Origin: Old English
130. Pembroke
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “the mouth of the brook.”
Origin: Old Welsh, Old English
131. Rothermere
Meaning: Derived from a place name, likely referring to a “mere” (lake or pond) in the region of Rother.
Origin: Old English
132. Stanhope
Meaning: Derived from “stone hill” or “stony hill.”
Origin: Old English
133. Valiant
Meaning: Derived from the Old French word “valiant,” meaning “brave” or “courageous.”
Origin: Old French
134. Willoughby
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “willow settlement” or “village by the willows.”
Origin: Old English
135. Darnell
Meaning: Derived from an Old French personal name, possibly meaning “little pine tree.”
Origin: Old French, Old English
136. Earlham
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “homestead of the nobleman.”
Origin: Old English
137. Faversham
Meaning: Derived from “the village by the wild garlic” or “faver.”
Origin: Old English
138. Grange
Meaning: Referring to a farm or estate, often a monastery farm.
Origin: Old French, Old English
139. Hillingdon
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “hill of the people of Hill” or “hill of the hill dwellers.”
Origin: Old English
140. Isherwood
Meaning: Derived from “the wood of Isher,” possibly a reference to a personal name.
Origin: Old English
141. Kirkwall
Meaning: Derived from a place name in the Orkney Islands, meaning “church bay.”
Origin: Old Norse
142. Langston
Meaning: Derived from “long town” or “long settlement.”
Origin: Old English
143. Morecombe
Meaning: Derived from “mor or marshy town” or “settlement by the lake.”
Origin: Old English
144. Northcliffe
Meaning: Referring to a cliff or slope located in the northern part of a region.
Origin: Old English
145. Ormsby
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “the settlement of Orm,” possibly referring to a personal name.
Origin: Old Norse
146. Pemberley
Meaning: A fictional place name, most famously known as the estate in “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen.
Origin: English, Literary
147. Quarles
Meaning: Likely derived from a place name or a personal name, meaning “dweller at the quarries.”
Origin: Old English
148. Ravenshaw
Meaning: Derived from “ravens’ wood” or “wood of the ravens.”
Origin: Old English
149. Standish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “stone pasture” or “stone enclosure.”
Origin: Old English
150. Tresillian
Meaning: Derived from a place name, likely meaning “three hills” or “three mounts.”
Origin: Old English
151. Verney
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “green meadow” or “green pasture.”
Origin: Old French, Old English
152. Walden
Meaning: Derived from “valley of the Welsh” or “Waldens’ valley.”
Origin: Old English
153. Yarborough
Meaning: Derived from “wood or grove of the Yarb” (a personal name).
Origin: Old English
154. Arundel
Meaning: Derived from a place name in England, possibly meaning “stream of the eagles.”
Origin: Old English
155. Barrow
Meaning: Referring to a burial mound or hill.
Origin: Old English
156. Crofton
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “settlement by the croft” (small farm or field).
Origin: Old English
157. Egerton
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly meaning “the town of the elder tree.”
Origin: Old English
158. Fenton
Meaning: Derived from “marsh town” or “town of the marsh.”
Origin: Old English
159. Glendenning
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “valley of the waterfall.”
Origin: Scottish
160. Huxley
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “Hugh’s meadow.”
Origin: Old English
161. Inglewood
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “wood or forest of the Angles.”
Origin: Old English
162. Jermyn
Meaning: Likely derived from the Old French “Germain,” meaning “brother” or “related.”
Origin: Old French
163. Kennington
Meaning: Derived from “king’s town” or “settlement of the king.”
Origin: Old English
164. Lancelot
Meaning: Derived from the Old French name Lancelot, meaning “servant of the lance.”
Origin: Old French
165. Mansergh
Meaning: Likely Derived from “hill or mountain of the man.”
Origin: Old English
166. Newbold
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “new settlement” or “new farm.”
Origin: Old English
167. Oakley
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “oak tree meadow.”
Origin: Old English
168. Prescott
Meaning: Derived from “priest’s cottage” or “dwelling of the priest.”
Origin: Old French
169. Rookwood
Meaning: Derived from “wood of the rooks” (a type of bird).
Origin: Old English
170. Saxon
Meaning: Derived from a term used for a member of the Saxon tribe or their language.
Origin: Old English, Germanic
171. Thurlow
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “thorn hill” or “hill of the thorns.”
Origin: Old English
172. Ulster
Meaning: Referring to a province in Ireland, or a person from that region.
Origin: Irish, Gaelic
173. Vane
Meaning: Likely derived from the word “vane,” meaning “a weathercock” or “a wind vane.”
Origin: Old French
174. Waring
Meaning: Derived from “warning” or “guarding.”
Origin: Old English
175. Withers
Meaning: Likely referring to a person who lived near a hill or ridge.
Origin: Old English
176. Bainbridge
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “bridge over the river Bain.”
Origin: Old English
177. Caldecott
Meaning: Derived from “the cottage by the stream.”
Origin: Old English
178. Dunsford
Meaning: Derived from “hill fort on the ford.”
Origin: Old English
179. Emory
Meaning: Derived from an Old French personal name, meaning “brave” or “powerful.”
Origin: Old French, Old Germanic
180. Ferndale
Meaning: Derived from “valley of ferns.”
Origin: Old English
181. Gravesend
Meaning: Derived from “gravel shore” or “shore with gravel.”
Origin: Old English
182. Haviland
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “enclosure with hawthorns.”
Origin: Old French
183. Ingalls
Meaning: Likely derived from a personal name meaning “son of Ing,” a Germanic god.
Origin: Old Germanic
184. Jericho
Meaning: Derived from the biblical city name, meaning “city of the moon.”
Origin: Hebrew, Biblical
185. Linwood
Meaning: Derived from “lime tree wood.”
Origin: Old English
186. Mildenhall
Meaning: Derived from “middle hall” or “central hall.”
Origin: Old English
187. Norwood
Meaning: Referring to someone who lived in or near a northern wood.
Origin: Old English
188. Owston
Meaning: Derived from “the town by the ash tree.”
Origin: Old English
189. Pennell
Meaning: Derived from a personal name, possibly meaning “son of Neil” or “son of the champion.”
Origin: Old French, Celtic
190. Ralston
Meaning: Derived from “Ralph’s town” or “Ralph’s settlement.”
Origin: Old English
191. Stratton
Meaning: Derived from “street settlement” or “settlement on the street.”
Origin: Old English
192. Tilbury
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “the stronghold or castle by the tidal river.”
Origin: Old English
193. Uxbridge
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “the town by the Ux or river.”
Origin: Old English
194. Ventnor
Meaning: Derived from a place name, likely meaning “windy river” or “windy inlet.”
Origin: Old French, Old English
195. Waltham
Meaning: Derived from “town by the Welshman’s river.”
Origin: Old English
196. Weston
Meaning: Derived from “western town” or “town in the west.”
Origin: Old English
197. Yardley
Meaning: Derived from “meadow of the herdsman.”
Origin: Old English
198. Zetland
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly referring to “land of the settler” or “place of settlement.”
Origin: Old Norse
199. Altham
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “estate on the river.”
Origin: Old English
200. Broughton
Meaning: Derived from “town or settlement by the brook.”
Origin: Old English
201. Chesterfield
Meaning: Derived from “field of the fortress.”
Origin: Old English
202. Dallington
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “settlement of the Dallings” or “family of Dalling.”
Origin: Old English
203. Fenwick
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “marshy place or field.”
Origin: Old English
204. Giffard
Meaning: Derived from a personal name, meaning “the gift of strength.”
Origin: Old French
205. Hoddle
Meaning: Likely derived from a personal name or a place name meaning “the hollow” or “sunken ground.”
Origin: Old English
206. Inskip
Meaning: Likely Derived from “the spring in the hollow.”
Origin: Old English
207. Jullian
Meaning: Derived from the Latin name Julianus, meaning “young” or “youthful.”
Origin: Latin
208. Kenworthy
Meaning: Derived from “the settlement of the nobleman” or “noble estate.”
Origin: Old English
209. Lavington
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “town or settlement of Laving.”
Origin: Old English
210. Melling
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “hill by the meadow” or “settlement by the hill.”
Origin: Old English
211. Napier
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name for a “keeper of the table” or “steward.”
Origin: Old French, Medieval Latin
Surnames from The Aristocracy and Nobility
212. Beaumont
Meaning: Derived from “beautiful mountain.”
Origin: Old French
213. Carleton
Meaning: Derived from “town of the free men” or “settlement of the free men.”
Origin: Old English
214. Darnley
Meaning: Derived from “thorny meadow” or “meadow with thorn bushes.”
Origin: Old English
215. Fitzroy
Meaning: Derived from a Norman term meaning “son of the king.”
Origin: Old French
216. Kingston
Meaning: Derived from “king’s town” or “settlement of the king.”
Origin: Old English
217. Lancaster
Meaning: Derived from “Roman fort on the Lune.”
Origin: Old English
218. Montague
Meaning: Derived from “pointed mountain.”
Origin: Old French
219. Stratford
Meaning: Derived from “street ford” or “ford by the Roman road.”
Origin: Old English
220. Wentworth
Meaning: Derived from “forest settlement.”
Origin: Old English
221. Wyndham
Meaning: Derived from “village of the wine-growing place.”
Origin: Old English
222. Waverley
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “meadow of the quaking or trembling aspens.”
Origin: Old English
223. Somerset
Meaning: Derived from “summer settlement” or “settlement of the summer people.”
Origin: Old English
224. Windsor
Meaning: Derived from “windlass fort” or “fortress of the winding river.”
Origin: Old English
225. Arlington
Meaning: Derived from “estate of the eagle’s town.”
Origin: Old English
226. Astley
Meaning: Derived from “ash tree meadow.”
Origin: Old English
227. Banbury
Meaning: Derived from “town by the bank of the river.”
Origin: Old English
228. Bedford
Meaning: Derived from “town by the ford of the bed.”
Origin: Old English
229. Brudenell
Meaning: Derived from “hill of the cattle” or “hill of the oxen.”
Origin: Old French
230. Burghley
Meaning: Derived from “town or settlement by a hill or fortress.”
Origin: Old English
231. Cavendish
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly meaning “town by the cave or hollow.”
Origin: Old English
232. Chatham
Meaning: Derived from “town by the path” or “settlement by the ford.”
Origin: Old English
233. Cromwell
Meaning: Derived from “crooked well.”
Origin: Old English
234. Devereux
Meaning: Derived from “the oak tree.”
Origin: Old French
235. Digby
Meaning: Derived from “the settlement by the dyke.”
Origin: Old Norse
236. Fitzherbert
Meaning: Derived from a Norman personal name meaning “son of Herbert.”
Origin: Old French
237. Harington
Meaning: Derived from “town or settlement of the warriors.”
Origin: Old English
238. Harcourt
Meaning: Derived from “high court” or “stronghold.”
Origin: Old French
239. Hume
Meaning: Derived from “the house or dwelling.”
Origin: Old French, Latin
240. Kingsley
Meaning: Derived from “king’s meadow” or “king’s clearing.”
Origin: Old English
241. Lovell
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “little wolf.”
Origin: Old French
242. Luttrell
Meaning: Derived from “lute maker” or “musician.”
Origin: Old French
243. March
Meaning: Derived from “boundary or border” or “from the march.”
Origin: Old French
244. Mortimer
Meaning: Derived from “still water” or “dead sea.”
Origin: Old French
245. Neville
Meaning: Derived from “new town” or “new village.”
Origin: Old French
246. Pomeroy
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “apple tree” or “orchard.”
Origin: Old French
247. Plantagenet
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “sprig of broom” (a type of shrub).
Origin: Latin
248. Seymour
Meaning: Derived from “st. Maurice’s hill.”
Origin: Old French
249. Stafford
Meaning: Derived from “town by the ford of the stony ground.”
Origin: Old English
250. Talbot
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “bright town.”
Origin: Old French
251. Templar
Meaning: Derived from the name of the medieval military order, the Knights Templar.
Origin: Old French, Medieval Latin
252. Throckmorton
Meaning: Derived from “village near the thorny stream.”
Origin: Old English
253. Acton
Meaning: Derived from “oak town” or “town by the oak tree.”
Origin: Old English
254. Aston
Meaning: Derived from “east town” or “town of the ash tree.”
Origin: Old English
255. Boleyn
Meaning: Derived from “belonging to the town of the nobleman.”
Origin: Old French
256. Boteler
Meaning: Derived from an occupation name meaning “butler” or “keeper of the cellar.”
Origin: Old French
257. Bradshaw
Meaning: Derived from “broad hill.”
Origin: Old English
258. Brooke
Meaning: Derived from “brook” or “stream.”
Origin: Old English
259. Berkeley
Meaning: Derived from “birch tree meadow.”
Origin: Old English
260. Cartwright
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “wagon maker.”
Origin: Old English
261. Clifford
Meaning: Derived from “cliff ford” or “ford by the cliff.”
Origin: Old English
262. De La Pole
Meaning: Derived from “of the pool” or “from the pool.”
Origin: Old French
263. Fane
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “fair” or “beautiful.”
Origin: Old French
264. Fitzpatrick
Meaning: Derived from a Norman patronymic, meaning “son of Patrick.”
Origin: Old French
265. Hales
Meaning: Derived from “the hall” or “from the manor.”
Origin: Old English
266. Hotham
Meaning: Derived from “home of the horses.”
Origin: Old Norse, Old English
267. Knyvett
Meaning: Derived from an old Norman name, possibly referring to a “knight” or “nobleman.”
Origin: Old French
268. Lacy
Meaning: Derived from “from the lace” or “netting.”
Origin: Old French
269. Percy
Meaning: Derived from “pierced hill” or “from the hill by the water.”
Origin: Old French
270. Russel
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “red-haired” or “little red one.”
Origin: Old French
271. St. John
Meaning: Derived from the name of the patron saint, John the Baptist.
Origin: Old French, Latin
272. Vere
Meaning: Derived from a place name, meaning “spring” or “river.”
Origin: Old French, Latin
273. Wellesley
Meaning: Derived from “well or spring near a meadow.”
Origin: Old English
274. Woodville
Meaning: Derived from “wooded valley” or “valley by the woods.”
Origin: Old French
275. Courtenay
Meaning: Derived from “court or enclosure.”
Origin: Old French
276. Howard
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “high guardian” or “chief protector.”
Origin: Old English
277. Fitzsimmons
Meaning: Derived from a patronymic name meaning “son of Simmons.”
Origin: Old French
278. Swynford
Meaning: Derived from “swine ford” or “ford by the pigs.”
Origin: Old English
279. Warham
Meaning: Derived from “homestead by the dam.”
Origin: Old English
280. Warwick
Meaning: Derived from “settlement by the weir.”
Origin: Old English
281. Harwell
Meaning: Derived from “the well of the army.”
Origin: Old English
282. Montfort
Meaning: Derived from “mountain fortress.”
Origin: Old French
283. Ormond
Meaning: Derived from a place name, possibly meaning “mountain of the bear.”
Origin: Old French
284. Salisbury
Meaning: Derived from “fortified town of the willow trees.”
Origin: Old English
285. Strathmore
Meaning: Derived from “great valley.”
Origin: Scottish Gaelic
286. Tavistock
Meaning: Derived from “town by the Tavy River.”
Origin: Old English
287. Trowbridge
Meaning: Derived from “bridge over the brook.”
Origin: Old English
288. de Clifford
Meaning: Derived from “cliff ford” or “ford by the cliff.”
Origin: Old French
289. Winthrop
Meaning: Derived from “town of the friend or protector.”
Origin: Old English
290. Greystoke
Meaning: Derived from “gray stone.”
Origin: Old English
291. Heywood
Meaning: Derived from “wooded hill.”
Origin: Old English
292. Lumley
Meaning: Derived from “the settlement by the hill.”
Origin: Old English
293. Moreton
Meaning: Derived from “settlement by the moor.”
Origin: Old English
294. St. Clair
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “clear, bright.”
Origin: Old French
295. Tewkesbury
Meaning: Derived from “town by the Tewkes.”
Origin: Old English
296. Waterton
Meaning: Derived from “town by the water.”
Origin: Old English
297. Slingsby
Meaning: Derived from “town by the stream.”
Origin: Old Norse
298. St. George
Meaning: Derived from the name of the patron saint, George.
Origin: Greek, Latin
299. Buckingham
Meaning: Derived from “home of Bucca” (a personal name).
Origin: Old English
300. Basset
Meaning: Derived from “low land” or “low-lying meadow.”
Origin: Old French
301. Curzon
Meaning: Derived from “from the hill or house of the Curzon family.”
Origin: Old French
302. Holford
Meaning: Derived from “the ford by the holly trees.”
Origin: Old English
303. Rothbury
Meaning: Derived from “town by the brook.”
Origin: Old English
304. Saunders
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “son of Alexander.”
Origin: Old French
305. Ainsley
Meaning: Derived from “one’s own meadow.”
Origin: Old English
Victorian Last Names in Popular Culture
306. Blythe
Meaning: Derived from Old English, meaning “free spirit” or “happy.”
Origin: Old English
307. Churchill
Meaning: Derived from “church hill.”
Origin: Old English
308. Darcy
Meaning: Derived from “from the fortress.”
Origin: Old French
309. Fitzgerald
Meaning: A Norman patronymic name meaning “son of Gerald.”
Origin: Old French, Irish
310. Hawthorne
Meaning: Derived from “thorn bush by the hawthorn tree.”
Origin: Old English
311. Larkin
Meaning: Derived from a diminutive of the given name Laurence, meaning “laurel.”
Origin: Old French, Latin
312. Welles
Meaning: Derived from “spring” or “well.”
Origin: Old English
313. Trevelyan
Meaning: Derived from a Cornish place name meaning “house of the settlement.”
Origin: Cornish
314. Faulkner
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “falconer” or “one who trains falcons.”
Origin: Old French
315. Langford
Meaning: Derived from “long ford.”
Origin: Old English
316. Forsyte
Meaning: Derived from “from the village of the forest.”
Origin: Old English
317. Fothergill
Meaning: Derived from “farmstead near the stream.”
Origin: Old English
318. Rivers
Meaning: Derived from a geographical name meaning “from the river.”
Origin: Old French
319. Radcliffe
Meaning: Derived from “red cliff.”
Origin: Old English
320. Tennyson
Meaning: Derived from a surname meaning “son of Tenny.”
Origin: Old English
321. Browning
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “brown-haired” or “brown.”
Origin: Old English
322. Wilde
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “wild” or “untamed.”
Origin: Old English
323. Bronte
Meaning: Derived from “thunder” or “storm.”
Origin: Greek
324. Sherwood
Meaning: Derived from “bright forest.”
Origin: Old English
325. Gable
Meaning: Derived from an architectural term referring to a triangular wall section of a building.
Origin: Old French
326. Godwin
Meaning: Derived from an Old English personal name meaning “God’s friend.”
Origin: Old English
327. Shelburne
Meaning: Derived from “the town near the stream.”
Origin: Old English
328. Harrington
Meaning: Derived from “town of the hare.”
Origin: Old English
329. Lambert
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “bright land.”
Origin: Old German
330. Cleaver
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name for a butcher or one who cleaves meat.
Origin: Old English
331. Spencer
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “keeper of the provisions.”
Origin: Old French
332. Thornton
Meaning: Derived from “thorn bush town.”
Origin: Old English
333. Thackeray
Meaning: Derived from “thick wood.”
Origin: Old English
334. Richardson
Meaning: A patronymic surname meaning “son of Richard.”
Origin: Old English
335. Forsythe
Meaning: A variant of Forsyte, meaning “from the village by the forest.”
Origin: Old English
336. Caldwell
Meaning: Derived from “cold stream.”
Origin: Old English
337. Litchfield
Meaning: Derived from “the field of the light or bright one.”
Origin: Old English
338. Kingsbury
Meaning: Derived from “king’s town.”
Origin: Old English
339. Worthington
Meaning: Derived from “settlement of the people of Worth.”
Origin: Old English
340. Trent
Meaning: Derived from a river name, possibly from the Latin word “Trentus,” meaning “strong.”
Origin: Latin
341. Sutherland
Meaning: Derived from “southern land.”
Origin: Old Norse
342. Malory
Meaning: Derived from “unfortunate” or “unlucky.”
Origin: Old French
343. Brackley
Meaning: Derived from “bracken meadow.”
Origin: Old English
344. Blanchard
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “white” or “fair.”
Origin: Old French
345. Cort
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “short” or “diminutive.”
Origin: Old French
346. Larkspur
Meaning: Derived from a flower name, representing a type of flowering plant.
Origin: Old English
347. Langley
Meaning: Derived from “long meadow.”
Origin: Old English
348. Lord
Meaning: Derived from a title of nobility meaning “ruler” or “master.”
Origin: Old English
349. Halstead
Meaning: Derived from “hall by the stone.”
Origin: Old English
350. Holderness
Meaning: Derived from “the estate of the family of Holder.”
Origin: Old Norse
351. Hamilton
Meaning: Derived from “town of the hamlet.”
Origin: Old English
352. Huntington
Meaning: Derived from “town of the hunter.”
Origin: Old English
353. Gilmore
Meaning: Derived from a Gaelic personal name meaning “servant of St. Moluag.”
Origin: Gaelic
354. Garnett
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “little grain” or “seed.”
Origin: Old French
355. Denison
Meaning: Derived from a patronymic surname meaning “son of Denis.”
Origin: Old French
356. Freeman
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name for a free person, or one who was not a serf.
Origin: Old English
357. Blake
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “dark” or “fair-haired.”
Origin: Old English
358. Camberwell
Meaning: Derived from “well by the crooked stream.”
Origin: Old English
359. Cooke
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “cook.”
Origin: Old English
360. Rayleigh
Meaning: Derived from “roe deer meadow.”
Origin: Old English
361. Durrell
Meaning: Derived from “the dweller by the enclosure.”
Origin: Old French
362. Armitage
Meaning: Derived from “homestead by the oak tree.”
Origin: Old French
363. Chandler
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “candle maker.”
Origin: Old French
364. Darby
Meaning: Derived from “town by the deer park.”
Origin: Old Norse
365. Fairfax
Meaning: Derived from “fair-haired.”
Origin: Old French
366. Falconer
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “one who trains falcons.”
Origin: Old French
367. Emery
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “brave, powerful.”
Origin: Old German
368. Giles
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “young goat.”
Origin: Greek
369. Haslett
Meaning: Derived from “hazel wood.”
Origin: Old English
370. Newbury
Meaning: Derived from “new fortress.”
Origin: Old English
371. Maxwell
Meaning: Derived from “Maccus’ stream.”
Origin: Old French
372. Merton
Meaning: Derived from “town by the lake.”
Origin: Old English
373. Silverstone
Meaning: Derived from “silver stone” or “stone with a silver appearance.”
Origin: Old English
374. Travers
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “one who crosses rivers.”
Origin: Old French
375. Worth
Meaning: Derived from “enclosure” or “settlement.”
Origin: Old English
376. Lockhart
Meaning: Derived from “lock of the hart (stag).”
Origin: Old Scottish
377. Blackwell
Meaning: Derived from “black stream.”
Origin: Old English
378. Kendall
Meaning: Derived from “valley of the River Kent.”
Origin: Old English
379. Westbrook
Meaning: Derived from “west stream.”
Origin: Old English
380. Wells
Meaning: Derived from a geographical name meaning “well” or “spring.”
Origin: Old English
381. Slade
Meaning: Derived from “valley or small, narrow valley.”
Origin: Old English
382. Walcott
Meaning: Derived from “the cottage near the stream.”
Origin: Old English
383. Renshaw
Meaning: Derived from “rough, rocky hill.”
Origin: Old English
384. Ottershaw
Meaning: Derived from “hill of the otter.”
Origin: Old English
385. Blakewood
Meaning: Derived from “dark wood.”
Origin: Old English
386. Bernard
Meaning: Derived from a personal name meaning “brave as a bear.”
Origin: Old German
387. Colson
Meaning: Derived from a patronymic surname meaning “son of Col.”
Origin: Old English
388. Landon
Meaning: Derived from “long hill.”
Origin: Old English
389. Denson
Meaning: Derived from a patronymic surname meaning “son of Den.”
Origin: Old English
390. Everson
Meaning: Derived from a patronymic surname meaning “son of Ever.”
Origin: Old English
391. Penrose
Meaning: Derived from “headland.”
Origin: Old Cornish
392. Merrick
Meaning: Derived from a Welsh personal name meaning “fame, power.”
Origin: Welsh
393. Ashleigh
Meaning: Derived from “ash tree meadow.”
Origin: Old English
394. Fawcett
Meaning: Derived from “forked stream.”
Origin: Old French
395. Palgrave
Meaning: Derived from “holy grave.”
Origin: Old French
396. Farrington
Meaning: Derived from “fern settlement.”
Origin: Old English
397. Gifford
Meaning: Derived from an Old French personal name meaning “spear ruler.”
Origin: Old French
398. Richmond
Meaning: Derived from “rich hill.”
Origin: Old French
399. Hartwell
Meaning: Derived from “stag’s spring.”
Origin: Old English
400. Stokes
Meaning: Derived from “a place with a stockade.”
Origin: Old English
401. Abbot
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name meaning “abbot” or “monastic leader.”
Origin: Old English
402. Ashmore
Meaning: Derived from “ash tree marsh.”
Origin: Old English
403. Bagley
Meaning: Derived from “meadow of the bagel.”
Origin: Old English
404. Barron
Meaning: Derived from a title of nobility meaning “baron.”
Origin: Old French
405. Belgrave
Meaning: Derived from “beautiful valley.”
Origin: Old French
406. Blakely
Meaning: Derived from “dark wood.”
Origin: Old English
407. Bryston
Meaning: Derived from “stone of the briar.”
Origin: Old English
408. Carrington
Meaning: Derived from “town of the marsh.”
Origin: Old English
409. Chichester
Meaning: Derived from “fortress by the chisel.”
Origin: Old English
410. Clarendon
Meaning: Derived from “cliff by the river.”
Origin: Old English
411. Coates
Meaning: Derived from “a cottage or hut.”
Origin: Old English
412. Cornwallis
Meaning: Derived from “the corner of the land.”
Origin: Old Cornish
413. Crayford
Meaning: Derived from “ford by the crag.”
Origin: Old English
414. Darrow
Meaning: Derived from “oak tree hill.”
Origin: Old English
415. Denby
Meaning: Derived from “valley farm.”
Origin: Old English
416. Deverell
Meaning: Derived from “oak grove.”
Origin: Old French
417. Dillon
Meaning: Derived from an Irish personal name meaning “faithful.”
Origin: Irish
418. Elkington
Meaning: Derived from “farm of the elder tree.”
Origin: Old English
419. Fenshaw
Meaning: Derived from “dweller by the fen.”
Origin: Old English
420. Fleetwood
Meaning: Derived from “ford by the stream.”
Origin: Old English
421. Grantham
Meaning: Derived from “Granta’s homestead.”
Origin: Old English
422. Greville
Meaning: Derived from “to be in the peace of the people.”
Origin: Old French
423. Hargrove
Meaning: Derived from “hill of the goats.”
Origin: Old English
424. Hargrave
Meaning: Derived from “the grove of the hare.”
Origin: Old English
425. Hartfield
Meaning: Derived from “stag’s field.”
Origin: Old English
426. Hedges
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name for a hedge maker.
Origin: Old English
427. Heston
Meaning: Derived from “settlement of the horses.”
Origin: Old English
428. Holt
Meaning: Derived from “wood” or “grove.”
Origin: Old English
429. Kensington
Meaning: Derived from “king’s town.”
Origin: Old English
430. Kinross
Meaning: Derived from “head of the promontory.”
Origin: Scottish
431. Lacey
Meaning: Derived from a surname meaning “from Lassy” (a place name in France).
Origin: Old French
432. Lister
Meaning: Derived from an occupational name for a person who listed or made a catalog.
Origin: Old English
433. Manville
Meaning: Derived from “manor farm.”
Origin: Old French
434. Oakes
Meaning: Derived from “oak grove.”
Origin: Old English
435. O’Connell
Meaning: Derived from a patronymic surname meaning “descendant of Connell.”
Origin: Irish
436. Radford
Meaning: Derived from “ford by the red ford.”
Origin: Old English
437. Ravenscroft
Meaning: Derived from “ravens’ hollow.”
Origin: Old English
438. Selwyn
Meaning: Derived from “manor spring.”
Origin: Old English
439. Sedgewick
Meaning: Derived from “sedge farm.”
Origin: Old English
440. Somerville
Meaning: Derived from “summer farm.”
Origin: Old French
441. Tatham
Meaning: Derived from “village at the southern homestead.”
Origin: Old English
Conclusion
Victorian last names tell interesting stories of families, jobs, and places from the 1800s.
Each name in this list gives us a peek into how people lived during Queen Victoria’s time. I hope this collection of surnames helps you find what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking up your family history or just curious about Victorian names, these surnames show us how rich British naming traditions were.
Want to learn more about your own last name?
Try asking older family members about its history. You might find surprising connections to the Victorian era.
If you found this list helpful, share it with others who love learning about historical names.
